“In Montpellier, we rely on the adaptability of cyclists,” laments Vélocité

Vélocité a passé au peigne fin les aménagements de l'anneau cyclable autour du centre-ville de Montpellier. Infographie SW/Source : observatoire.velocite-montpellier

The Vélocité association, which is putting a new online bicycle observatory, believes that much remains to be done to convince other users to take up cycling. 

In October 2017, a year before the first major mobilization of Montpellier cyclists, Vélocité put online “VélObs”, an interactive observatory designed to identify the dangers facing cyclists.

Nearly seven years later, the landscape has changed enormously, with the creation of numerous trails and the explosion in the number of bicycles. It is precisely to “monitor and evaluate the development of the new secure Montpellier bicycle network” that the association is creating a new tool.

Detailed interactive maps, network developments, cycle ring and cycle lines examined, quality criteria added for each section: this site is a goldmine for all Montpellier residents who regularly cycle.

“We were inspired by what existed in other cities, particularly Paris and Lyon, explains Denis Feurer, vice-president of vélocité. We explain our methodology and people can verify the data for themselves."

“Between what was voted on in the Metropolitan Council and what is announced today, ambitions have been revised downwards, he observes. We have thus gone from 75% to 65% of the 235 km of cycle lines completed in 2026.”

Other regrets: “These cycle lines are being completed in small pieces, which would be unthinkable for a tram line. There are also some missing connections, such as between the cycle ring and the south-west cycle line."

"For line no. 10 which passes in front of the CHU, you can go from the centre of Montpellier to Occitanie. But then, there is nothing left to join the beautiful track that was built between Valsière (Grabels) and Saint-Gély."

Julie Frêche: “The Metropolis has a multimodal vision”

Julie Frêche is vice-president of Montpellier Métropole in charge of mobility.

What do you think of the Observatory developed by Vélocité ?

It's a very interesting tool, but only cycle lines are included. However, we also need local and connection networks to serve all the inhabitants of the Metropolis, schools, etc.

Where are you with cycle paths?

We have completed an additional 142 km since June 2020. Today, we are at 422 km in the Metropolis, or 66% of cycle routes. There are also 71 km of greenways, several of which raise questions, which explains why the number of cycle lines completed in 2026 has been revised downwards.

What about Place Saint-Denis ?

While 11,000 vehicles used to pass through it every day, there are none left since the square will be pedestrianized. Bikes will have to slow down to give priority to pedestrians. It will also be the most important tram station on line 5, which will carry 80,000 passengers per day. I understand that Vélocité has a vision focused on bikes, but we need to think about all modes of transportation.

The number of bikes has multiplied in the city…

No Metropolis has removed a transit tunnel in the city center (the Comédie tunnel) to open it to bikes. And none has equipped 11% of its population with electric bikes, thanks to aid without resource conditions for three years.

“Offering safe routes”

To go to the sea by bike, it is not the panacea either. “The track that goes to Carnon is dangerous because it runs alongside the four-lane road. As for the one that goes to Palavas, it has become too narrow for the 3,000 bikes and the many pedestrians who regularly use it”.

“Our main concern is the safety of bike users, continues Nicolas Le Moigne, president of vélocité. The Metropolis has the ultra-ambitious goal of increasing the modal share (home-work travel) for cycling by 2032. But if we want to convince people who take the car or the tram to switch to cycling, we need to offer them safe routes. Otherwise, they will give up."

"In Montpellier, we rely a lot on the adaptability of cyclists, continues Denis Feurer. But it doesn't work to attract new users." He takes the example of "Quai Laurens (where) there is a cycle path on one side and nothing on the other."

“Other cities are getting ahead”

During the last Barometer of Cycling Cities, the results of which were communicated in 2022, Montpellier was the major city making the most progress. She who was lagging behind had even received a score higher than the average for her category, from the users of the little queen.

“There have been major transformations in Montpellier in recent years, but other cities are following the same path and are even getting ahead of the game, like Rennes, Paris, Lyon and Bordeaux”, says Denis Feurer. Montpellier is currently suffering from the high number of works, and hopes to attract users once these have been completed. In 2026…

“Conflicts to come at Place Saint-Denis”

Like the map opposite, there is no shortage of areas for improvement. "On the cycle ring, there are major gaps. Place Saint-Denis, there are more than 4,000 bicycles per day, thousands of pedestrians and two tram lines. We fear major conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists."

“In the Metropolis, 57% of journeys are less than 3 km. And 40% of these journeys are still made by car, observes Nicolas Le Moigne. For cycling to reach a milestone, we must prioritize modal shift (change of mode of transport) to the detriment of traffic shift (change of route by motorists). There are still too many transit routes in the city.”

However, there are also examples of success. "Rue Gerhardt, there were three lanes for cars. Today, there are two lanes for bicycles. Rue Saint-Louis and part of rue Léon-Blum, pedestrians and bicycles can circulate in complete safety."

"Boulevard de Strasbourg, there are offset bus platforms, a new feature in Montpellier, which meets the needs, observes Denis Feurer. Tactical arrangements like these are cheap and easy to make”.

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